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Ricky Taylor had a great qualifying run on Saturday, taking the pole in the Grand Am race in New Jersey. Photo by LAT PHOTOGRAPHIC

Ricky Taylor speeds into the Grand Am pole

May 11, 2012

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Ricky Taylor picked a fine time to return to his pole-winning ways for the first time in the 2012 GRAND-AM Rolex Sports Car Series as he claimed the inaugural TOTAL Pole Award in qualifying for Sunday’s Global Barter 250 presented by Susan G. Komen For The Cure at New Jersey Motorsports Park (SPEED, Live, 1 p.m. ET).

Driving the No. 10 SunTrust Corvette DP he shares with Max Angelelli, Taylor lapped the 2.25- mile, 12-turn circuit in 1:15.091 (107.869 mph). It was Taylor’s first pole since taking the number one starting spot for the sprint race at Watkins Glen International last August.

“I was doubting myself,” said Taylor, who along with Angelelli is looking for his first victory at New Jersey. “I had such a bad time in [qualifying at] Barber [in March]. I made a mistake and it really cost us in the race, so I put a lot of pressure on myself coming into this.”

Taylor will share the front row with Jon Fogarty, who placed the No. 99 GAINSCO Auto Insurance Corvette DP second on the grid with a lap at 1:15.279 (107.600 mph). Fogarty and co-driver Alex Gurney won at NJMP in 2010.

Defending race winner Memo Rojas will start third in DP aboard the No. 01 TELMEX BMW/Riley he co-drives with Scott Pruett. Rojas originally qualified fourth, but third-place qualifier Michael Valiante’s time was disallowed in post qualifying tech inspection due to a rear wing wicker that was trimmed too short.

After missing the last two races due to a skiing injury, John Edwards returned to Rolex Series competition with a vengeance, placing the No. 57 Stevenson Auto Group Chevrolet Camaro GT.R on the GT pole with a lap at 1:21.834 (98.981 mph). Edwards co-drives with Robin Liddell.

“It was really tough to sit out two races, especially because I still went to the track and tried to support the team,” Edwards said. “I knew we would be one of the favorites for the pole but didn’t dream that we’d do it by half a second.”

Sylvain Tremblay qualified second in GT the No. 70 Mazdaspeed/Mazda/ModSpace/Castrol Mazda RX-8 at 1:22.369 (98.336 mph). Tremblay and co-driver Jonathan Bomarito are looking for their third straight New Jersey GT win on Sunday. Andrew Davis qualified third in GT in the No. 59 The Brumos Companies Porsche GT3 he shares with Leh Keen.